Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame

Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame
Established 2009
Location Belfast, New York
Coordinates 42°20′36″N 78°06′46″W / 42.343392°N 78.112682°W / 42.343392; -78.112682
Type Hall of Fame
Founder Scott Burt
Owner Scott Burt
Website bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in Belfast, New York, dedicated to the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. It is housed in barns that were once owned by the Greco-Roman wrestling champion and physical culture pioneer William Muldoon. The heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan, who fought in both bare-knuckled and gloved boxing contests, trained in these barns under Muldoon's guidance for his championship bout against Jake Kilrain in 1889.[1] The barns were originally across Main Street from their current location, on the grounds of the Belfast United Methodist Church. They were bought, moved, and restored by Scott Burt when the church became no longer interested in maintaining them. Burt opened the Hall of Fame in 2009, when it had its first induction class.[2]

The Hall of Fame houses plaques and memorabilia associated with bare-knuckle boxers that have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, as well as exhibits devoted to the general history of bare-knuckle boxing. Each year's induction class includes bare-knuckle boxers from the classic era, modern bare-knuckle boxers, and honorary inductees.[3]

The Hall of Fame also serves as a memorial to Sullivan's training camp with Muldoon, a number of relics of which have survived the lengthy period when the barns sat unused. These include a likely ceiling mount for Sullivan's heavy bag, the slatted area of flooring on which Sullivan stood for gravity showers after training, and the "room of repose" in which Sullivan and Muldoon relaxed and discussed strategy in the evenings, which includes some of Muldoon's original furniture.[1] Sullivan and Muldoon's use of this training camp was documented by the celebrated reporter Nellie Bly, in an article she wrote for the New York World.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Belfast, N.Y., houses Bare Knuckle Hall". ESPN. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  2. ↑ "BKBHOF Inductees". Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Kimbo Slice inducted into Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame". My MMA News. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  4. ↑ Bly, Nellie. "A Visit with John L. Sullivan". Retrieved 2016-02-24.

External links


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